The Observation Deck

Parents received this email this evening.


Dear Lakewood City School District Families,

There has been a lot of interpretation of recent Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) guidelines regarding athletic competitions and extracurricular activities for our students and the start of the school year. We understand that sports and extracurriculars are important to students’ mental and physical health, and that is why, after further review of OHSAA guidelines, all sports and extracurricular activities will be allowed to resume, effective immediately.

Out of great concern for the health and well-being of our student-athletes and the coaches, the Lakewood City School District, in accordance with OHSAA guidelines, implemented and is continuing to follow a phased rollout of workouts and practices. In June, our athletic director submitted workout plans to the Cuyahoga County Board of Health (CCBH), which were approved, and workouts began. Our student-athletes and coaches met regularly without incident until the CCBH issued its recommendation to suspend extracurriculars on Thursday, July 29, 2020. Subsequently, on July 31, Lakewood City Schools announced it would be suspending fall extracurriculars. However, upon further review of the CCBH guidelines, we have concluded that their recommendation to suspend sports and extracurricular activities was intended for the beginning of remote instruction, which, for Lakewood City Schools, begins on Sept. 8, 2020. Therefore, all extracurriculars – such as sports, band, theater, choir, etc. – can immediately resume.

While we are excited that our students are able to take part in their favorite activities, we are aware that recommendations and guidelines from the CCBH, OHSAA and the State of Ohio may change at any time. We will continue to make decisions in the best interest of our students, their families and faculty based on their recommendations, our experience and community input. Therefore, we will revisit the status of extracurriculars on or before September 8th as the current CCBH recommendation is that all activities are discontinued during remote learning.

We understand this is a frustrating, confusing and difficult time for many of our families and students. We, as a district team, will continue to work with coaches and faculty advisors to ensure students are safe, informed and have the best experience possible for their fall extracurriculars.

Thank you for your continued patience and understanding. As always, be well and be safe.

Sincerely,

Dr. Michael Barnes, Superintendent
Lakewood City Schools


Betsy Voinovich

Weak leadership buckles to a few dozen protesters....this is why America is losing the War Against COVID.

After giving this more thought, there are several components in the decision to return kids to school.
* Classroom instruction can be replaced, however inadequately and inconveniently, by remote learning. This is the biggest part of the school day and represents the greatest opportunity for Coronavirus infection. And there's an upside. The longer the school district does it, the better they will get at it. Eventually they might acquire better hardware and software, and support families that might need the help. There might even be some long-term cost-savings and a solid remote-learning program.
* The socialization aspect of school CANNOT be replaced, although it can be monitored, which we can't say for the re-opening of our many drinking establishments. There is a far greater chance of obtaining compliance in social distancing and other Covid protocols with kids than with so-called adults. So I agree, monitor, and test and track closely. Watch the numbers and at the first sign of trouble, close it down. Tell the kids that. Tell them what's at stake. They can handle the truth.
* There's one other aspect of the school experience we haven't discussed here much, and that's nutrition for those who need it. By all means provide lunches again. Keep it safe.

So I see a compromise: keep the classrooms closed for now, and open the sports, extracurriculars and lunch programs. Keep a close eye on everything in terms of CDC recommendations, and especially watch the infection metrics, of the kids, their families snd others they come in contact with.

There's one other aspect of the school experience we haven't discussed here much, and that's nutrition for those who need it. By all means provide lunches again. Keep it safe.

In some districts in PA they provide a loaded SNAP card to families of children who qualified for free lunch so families had extra food money.

There are ways to address all these issues.

Bridget Conant wrote: There are ways to address all these issues.

I'm tempted to ask, have they? But I know a certain contingent of leadership in this town likes to pretend the poor don't exist.

St. Ignatius High School suspending sports, extracurricular for start of school year

https://fox8.com/news/st-ignatius-high- ... hool-year/

I imagine this will cause many other schools to rethink their programs yet again.

IMHO, this on again off again thing is as confusing as just accepting the fact we are in the early stages of a pandemic.

Had we taken it seriously the first month, we would be going to sports games, but the deniers...

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From a "questionable" Fall athlete (I was a wrestler) Ignatius was one of the standard bearers of West Side high school athletics. If they have declined to participate I would seriously consider that position. Wrestlers used to have to weigh in at the end of the week. Maybe we have to have Fall sports athletes "weigh in" every week with a Covid test?

Various activities/sports are different. I worry about the "all sports" declaration as not all are equal. I'd be inclined to exclude wrestling, but if included the testing should be much more than once a week, especially with the Trumpian quickie tests. I'd include other sports like basketball in this, and any activity taking place in a poorly ventilated room or building (see other topic on HVAC).And of course, masks, masks, masks.

Dan Alaimo wrote:Various activities/sports are different. I worry about the "all sports" declaration as not all are equal. I'd be inclined to exclude wrestling, but if included the testing should be much more than once a week, especially with the Trumpian quickie tests. I'd include other sports like basketball in this, and any activity taking place in a poorly ventilated room or building (see other topic on HVAC).And of course, masks, masks, masks.

Dan

The very real problem is "If you let them play, why not us?"

Let's pretend I have no knowledge of what happened. So a cross country coach says, "well running is safe." Then a baseball mom says, "baseball is safe." Then they look at no contact sports and someone says "What about women's volleyball." A fictitious BOE contemplates, talks with people and lawyers, and it is decided that the schools could be opening themselves up for various lawsuits, and decide we better just give in. Now I am not saying that happened in Lakewood.

So the hell with the community, and the outcome, let the kids have sports.

Meanwhile, St. Ignatius shuts it all down, and plans come forward from coaches, that at this point would best be called banking on miracles.

The schools know what they should do. They know what is advised. Then the parents get involved.

For the record a group of parents looking at petitions and lawsuits to close schools. Another group looking to sue to get them open.

Welcome to America.

FWIW Dr. Mike Barnes has done a great job in his first 1+ years of being Superintendent. His recent review gave him good marks, but a couple places to work harder. When do we get to do a review of the Board of Education? I have a list for them, but will wait for next election.

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The Big Ten Conference -- with its multi million dollar TV deals, large medical staffs, and huge fan bases -- has voted to cancel the fall season.
Other major college conferences are expected to follow this week.

If they implement and maintain strict protocols, I'm okay with it as stated above. If not, it will unfortunately be over very soon.